Oxford Active is a childcare and activity provider offering after school clubs, holiday activity camps and school cover in and around Oxfordshire.

Like many businesses, Oxford Active was originally set up from home and has since grown organically to employ over twenty people at their new offices in Woodstock.

The problem

It was when moving in to their new offices that Oxford Active saw an opportunity to improve their customer service and working practices by installing a new telecoms system that addressed their needs both as a growing business and a childcare provider.

Owen McGovern, Owner of Oxford Active comments: “We previously operated through a network of mobile and home telephones which did not really provide the professional levels of service we aspire to. We also had quite specific needs as a childcare provider that our existing system did not fulfil so we went to market to find the most suitable and cost efficient telecoms system available.”

Oxford Active selected local telecoms provider GHM Communications to design and install a brand new system at their Woodstock offices that would also facilitate a high degree of remote working from their various clubs and camps.

“In school holidays, the majority of our staff are based at our various camps and clubs so it was vital that each member of staff could accept and make calls remotely whilst being networked to our main office. We also required a facility to leave urgent messages for teachers and parents in situations such as extreme weather conditions.”

The solution

GHM Communications recommended an IP based Samsung telephone system for Oxford Active as, unlike a SIPS Trunk system, it is not reliant on an ISDN connection which may not be accessible at many club and camp venues. Remote workers simply take the same IP handset that they use in the office out with them to location and connect to the central network through a standard broadband connection. Calls can be transferred directly from the head office and from one staff member to another just as they would if they were sitting at their desks.

Neil McManus of GHM Communications says: “The latest technology means that IP telephony is providing a much more flexible and cost effective solution for small and medium sized businesses looking for a new telephone system. I would say that around 60% of the telephone systems we install in and around Oxfordshire are now IP based.”

The new system allows Oxford Active to provide an automated menu based welcome message called Auto Attendant, allowing parents and teachers to be connected with the right department at the touch of a button. They can also record emergency messages on the Auto Attendant facility in the event that any clubs or camps are cancelled or affected by unforeseen conditions.

Owen concludes: “GHM have come up with the perfect solution for us. It was so simple and affordable to install and the results have been fantastic. We are now able to offer both our customers and employees a reliable, professional and easy to use system that delivers at every level of our business.”

Want to know more?

Get in touch with us today.

We can send you examples of our work, visit you for a free no obligation assessment of your current systems or you can just pick our brains. Call 01865 367111 or click on the button opposite to email us.